Elevator grain distributor



Nov. 10, 1931. c. B. READ ELEV ATOR GRAIN DISTRIBUTOR Filed July 26. 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet lr vetft'or G. B. Read .Nov. 10, 1931. c. B. READ ELEVATOR GRAIN DISTRIBUTQR Filed July 26, 1930 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 w m //M m V Mu Rm .0 \Mm g n a w av Q U I M u C A w N" 1k1& R k O S K k M \m. o a M1 U Q fimfll mamnmqv m 3 Nov. 10, 1931. c. B. READ ELEVATOR GRAIN DISTRIBUTOR Filed July '26. 1930 :5 sfiets -sneet '3 I I x veq't-or E B Read Patented Nov. 10, 1931 PATENT OFFICE CHARLES B. READ, 0F GEYLOILSASKATCI-IEWAN, (JANAIDA ELEVATOR GRAIN DISTRIBUTOR Application filed July 26,

The invention relates' to improvements in elevator grain distributors and particularly to a device for selectively discharging the elevated grain into one or other of'the vari- 3 ous storage bins of the elevator and an 0bj ect of the invention is to provide means entirely operated from the ground floor of the elevator and under the direct control of the elevator attendant for positively directing the ii) elevated grain into any desired storage bin and without any possibility of grain being spilled or lost.

A more specific object is to provide a distributing spout embodying telescoping sections, the spout receiving grain from the elevator leg head and being pivoted to rotate around a vertical axis and having the lower end of the spout carried by a carriage op- 7 crating on a suitably supported track positloned concentric to the vertical axis around which the spout turnsand to provide also bin spouts for receivii'ig grain discharged through the distributor spout.

A further object of the invention is to provide means operated from the ground floor of the elevator for turning the distributor spout to the desired bin spouts and means for automatically yet releasably lockmg the carriage'and consequently the distributor spout in a discharging position in respect to any one ot the bin spouts and also'm eans; forautomatically lowering the lowermost section of the distributor spout to telescope within the ing of the carriage.

A further object is to provide means opern'iount the lower end of the distributing n-Ji'dlli. so that it can be adjiissted in position in respect to the carriage and actually centre in regard to the means tor locking the car leased to drop under selected bin spout coincident with the lockit through sag- 1930. Serial No. 170,805.

riage, such latter insuring of the efiective alignment of thesdistributor spout and of the bin spout when the carriage is in its locked position. i

A further object is to mount the lowersection of the distributor spout so it'will move freely in regard to the upper section when regravity or when raised by a manual pull. u i j A further and more specific object is to associate with each bin spout a latch for automatically locking the carriage in a position such that the distributor spout will when released to drop, positively-telescope in the upper end of the bin spout with which the latch With the above-more important and other "minorobjects in view which will become more apparent as the ClGSCI'IplZIOH proceeds,

the invention consists essentially in thearrangement and construction of parts hereinaftermoreparticularly described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which g f Y Fig.1 is an interior view of the upper part of a grain elevator equipped with my invention. r

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view at 2-2 Figure 1. Fig. 3' is an enlarged detailed tional view at 3-3 Figure 2. i

Fig. 4t is a horizontal sectional view at Figure 3. v I

5 is a vertical sectional view at 55 Fi ure 4. V i

Fig. 6 is an enlarged face view of the car-.

vertical secriage.

7 is a horizontal sectional view at 77 Figure 3. I g V Fig. 8 is a sectional view at 88 Figure 5. Fig.9 is a face view of the various latch controlling wires and of the operating board.

In the drawings like characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several figures.

- As is well knowmit 1s customary 1n country provided with a funnel"likeupperencbif The" section 6 extends angularly downwardlyfromr.

the funnel and terminates well above the top floor 8 of the elevator.

This floor is carried by the bins and it is wellkiioi'ifii'i' th'at the samegets' out of plumb due to' tliesagging of the binsand the construction winder p'r ovide accommodates any sagging that might occur whileiall'owingi the grain discharging through the spout 6 to. be

p'o'siti 'el y delivered to' tihevarious bins: as de- 1 Shelia Centrally of the "floor and underlying: the funnel, I provide an upstanding hollow post J inthefoinijof a metal pipe. This post has it l'dweeenu: rotatably mounted in a. socket like'beafirfg' plate 10 carried'iby the floor 8 and above the plate 10 is: a further bearing plate '11 also r 'ot'at'ably receiving the post, the

bearing plate 11 being supported by suitable legs-11 fastened to: the floor; To the upper end-dime post, I permanently connect s mil-a1 upstanding-arms 12 which pivot a'll 'y support the" pipes forvertical' swinging movement, the said arms being pivotallv attached to the by horizontally aligned: pivot. bolts 13.

Concentric totlie post. IslOcate a circular track 14 siri=tably' carried by supporting braekots-14 extending upwardly from the-floor.

Suitable stationary bin: pipes 15; underlie thehtra ckand extend through the floor and communicate with the-several storage bins of the elevator. The bin pipes are inclined at an angle-to the floor as shown and all converge upwardly ton: peak paint-approximately located at the base of the funnel. The upper ends of the bin pipes are connected by brackots 15 to the track. A substantially rectangular horizontally disposed carriage frame 16 is provided which frame has its inne'rend spanning the post Sand connected thereto by a universal joint, the details of which w llbe later explained The outer end 0f the frame is provided with a wheeled carriage'operating'on the-track. 1

The universal joint just mentioned embodies span ofalignedhorizontally disposed pivot pins 17 and 17 extending from the-post and parallel to theside's of the carriage frame and these bolts p'ivotally support aband 18 spaced from and surrounding the post and 'contained'withinthe carriage frame and'having tliesides thereof pivotally attached by horizontally disposed pivot bolts-19 and19' to the sides ofthe frame 16, the "bolts'19 and 19 being positioned 90 from those 17 and 17. According to this arrangement, it will be apparent that the carriage frame can r0- tat-e in the horizontal plane turning with the post and that it can swing upwardly in the vertical plane turning on the bolts 19 and 19 andit. canrock around its longitudinal axisswinging onthe. bolts 17"andi17. In other words, the carriage frame is free to swing in all directions. It will be further noticedtha-t the carriage frame can move endwise asthe band 18 can slide in and out on the pins 17 and 17, this allowing the carriage topride. thetrack should the radial distance between the post and the track change throughsagging on other causes.

The. carriagewhichsupports the outer end of framerl6 comprises auouter-bar. 20 permanently secured to the outer end ofthe carriage; andv curved-concentric; to the post, a pair. of simil'arangle brackets 21 and. 21 permanently fastened to the sides of. the frame 16 and a pair-of pulleys 22 and 22 riding the track aandmounted on short axles 23cm.- ried'by the bar 20 .and the angle brackets. Centrally of its length, the bar 20 is supplied in its under side with a Vertical slot 2a utilized for a purpose; later disclosed, it being here observed that the said bar is located free of the outer side ofthe track.

The; outer end of the frame-16 carries a pair ofopposing, hangers 25 and 25, the hangersbeing pivotally attached by bolts 26 to the sides ofsuch framei Similar adjusting rods 27 are-pi-Votally attached to the lowor ends of the hangers and have their inner ends adjustably fastened by clamps at 28-to the sides of the frame, the arrangement being such that one can adjust the hangers by manipulating the clamping members 28. The lower end ofeachhanger carries an eye bolt 29 fitted with lock nuts 30 and 30, the eye bolts being horizontally aligned and being adjustable inwardly and outwardly by man pulating the nuts.

Similar guide rods 31 and 31 are located at the sides of the pipe 6, such guide rods having their upperends mounted on the pivots 13 and their lower ends extending through and guided by the eyes of the eye bolts. An extension pipe 32 telescopically receives the lower end of the pipe 6 and such pipe 32 is provided with suitable upper and lower straps 33 and 33 permanently fastened thereto and carrying side rollers Biwhich continuously ridethe rods 31 and 31, such construction. freely supporting the pipe 32 for endwise shifting movement in respect to the pipe'6.

It will be particularly observed that the lower end of t-he pipe 82 0211 be adjusted lat erally within the frame 16 by manipulating the eye bolts and also that one can raise or lower the lower end of the pipe 32 by swinging the hangers upon the release of the "It is tlesijftiblie also for the opel 'e tgronthefblll fl ffi 12 11 mt i iwl th J Spouts 6 mil 32- a s desires to 1" i'ntilt th to cli se hai ge int i dl si rieclbin'. To" t1i is: tile-.1 secu'recl a pulley jpegrnanently to the lower end'o'f {the post 19 jim'clliave l op n Operating 1 6 arme -i i? Pu e .v- "Emil have pessecltl e operating 1 3 B .QYQI' lu Q o. ii blie guidnigYp'ulleys and downwardly to a.

, eeg pemi a-i i angern'ent is such that when.

, pipe the pointer is OppQSite say' #3 011 the plate: 52. the dis clial ge epe ts 6 and. 32' e 'e' nie lotation where will delivei 'totlieb n. sp lefldiiigt bi #3- I While lime nl intli cetecl 1n the (l -p v-- ings, e'quipni'ent'for an elevatoifil aying h ve storage bins, t will of c o 'se be Qnclei'stood.

that the y 'i'i us "par s, @2 1 be i i e seiw a ocomniodate' any nu nbefof etoi e gebine without departing fr o ni the P1lf1l}"( )f the. invention.

a In order that the gene 'el operat on of the; omi et dev may be i a ly gli r ltocdy I will now gij eti shoi t' des'c 'ipt on ofthe. sn i uir ii ltheti is desired'fi ii li flli grain into el jittolj b1n#3. The operator on.

th' nain fl or ill'fateh the weig'l t $1 in the ey of he fodon the "ope 'ating po m which is oc ted ith 'bin'qt fi a de ig- 'iiated by the number on the bOi Ll 'l ne d this will raise the latch assoeieteclwithbm. s. H ll n't' i th 'qp if fi n iwh iiintil the pointeris opposite ihQl-Iiii on the plate 52 and at thi cz yi iege pisses oyezr the pipe 15 le zi'cling to bin #3, the latch enters the sl ot oftheca 'ia-ge and l'ocksit and the trip i e zictiietecl by tlie latch to release the sli'ding spout32 to g evitete endfentei the iippe' fencl of the pipe leading to b n 3. Aceorclingly, any 'g a ln subsequently eeva ted will be cliscl a ge'el int-0 in Subsequently when l etlesli'es' to store grain "1i sa'fybin 5,"he will catch the weight in the eye of the od on the operating boz 'rcl Whieh conti ole tl e latch of bin #Hand 01)- i ioiily the let'ch'of bin #3 will di op down at this time. He'will then pull down thei ing 48 and this'wi'll effeettl e tyithd'i awal bi the 32 ffoni the pent of bin #3 end the i s g tlq kin pt the Pi inii s-ep q mh weeame the l v with e eif fl5f. fle willitlien turn 1 1 i i'iwhe l 1 to brine-th n r t t e iifoppbs'litetlie niiinber engin pleteffigd eeig nating-thebin, #5,and tliiswill the frd l '15 f in m i rthe. Ca r age-over igige anti"attheleaiiie'tinae, aetue tfip to; tele'iie the spoilt .32" to slide ,4 n gncLteleseope ,thejilpplei" end ofthe e ancl' 11 321 sagginggwhieh night hejtra'ek is iirnpl'y', proyigled; $01 by itctiirfe and 'the fwjl ole jdevi'ee je nnder *itliefgrouncl', floor. of-tlie elevator.

Icl lini' yl ive fim :1. 'l flie cQnibination wither cliseliatge spout gle'e c lin' g i f remf@Iifelevator.l etdggof. a dofivn- QWQIfC lly inclining dist r'ibntiiigg spout having illeifllppleli end c ontiniioliisly receiving fl om the displiz fi ge Spout anlclfpiyotally v noiliijieel to p e i'nit of, L138 swinging ,oftl ejdistfi biitor spent 1 'ou'nd; ay'eitioal aXfiS ,and' the loyyer end11 1p de'cljvith an endwi's e sliifteble tele- '0p. .ng .se'gztioml oriz nt-l y f 'pos u fably' lno ntecl circinlzii' meepeeipieee'd c onfgentr'ie to'" the vertical; axis efoi'eseid, 2; eer- L' ia'e'e .per t n f9 th m n -v's ppo tin the dijsfirib iting spoutQtheiief'rom, plurality of s uiteblyepaeed upwar y converging, bin spouts, means, normally locking'the lower end {of tli'e distriliutoi" spout inflanliip position clear of .tliejoing spol'lts, nieans for rotating the distributorspQUttbbiifig the lower end thereof int-o alignment witli ,thexbin spouts, f neens for elea'si ig'tlie lowfei yendof thefdistributorspoiit to.plro'pinto.telesebpicrxelation with the ,spo' itlwitli 'lwhiehl it is eligned al clnifeens 'foji ei bseqliently raising thelower jencl oftlie -bin sjpoiitto locked position: I i

" 2. 'Th eiicQmbination with edischaiqge spout leading'gfroin' an elevatol head, of afldqwninclining ,tjl is tzibutifig' spov t having tliei'npp efflend' 'eontinuoiisly ,iteceiying from the plieclialjgejspout and \pivotgilly rinoiintecl ftp ermit qf1th.S Wi ig"lI g.Oithe distribiitor i pQu farqiii dla ve tica axis m the l e endpr ovided witlf'a'n' endivise shiftable telescoping s e cti 0 n, a horizontally d'isposed suitab yt ouhte c mula rick pos o e c01 c ent fie to' the yQftiCLl axis afoneeaiql, "a pal. el iage opei ating Q11 the track and eupnenting th d s ri uting p l hene m', 'aplu ali y ofsuit'ably spaced upwardly conyerg ngr bin spouts, means for normally rele a sebly 'loeking the NW. .Qnd (Off th l f trih lt l sm t in el v it fl osi onfllfiarf of t11e i w nieiiiis t eii lbl f qill'li di ant 11 1 or H ee ie fie i ea i b ng. i into the canrii ge', iifill enter the $16524 ii nd llock' t ole arrangement; s yeny select ve axial alignment with the bin spouts, means.

automatically actuated, for releasing the aforesaid locking means to permit the lower end of the distributing spout to drop and pass into telescopic relation with the bin spout with which it is aligned and means operable wardly including distributing spout having the upper end continuously receiving from the discharge spout and pivotally mounted to permit of the swinging of the distributor spout around a vertical axis and the lower end provided with an endwise shiftable tele scoping section, a horizontally disposed suitably mounted circular traclrpositioned con centric to the, vertical axis aforesaid, a carriage operating on the track and supporting the distributing spout therefrom,a plurality of suitably spaced upwardly converging bin spouts, means for normally releasablyv looking the lower end of the distributing spout in an elevated position clear of the bin spouts, means operable from a distant point for rotating the distributing spout to bring it into axial alignment with the bin spouts, means for automatically locking the distributing spout against turning movement around the vertical axis aforesaid when so aligned and for automatically releasing the locking means aforesaid to permit the lower endof thedistributing spout to pass into telescoping relation with the bin spout and-means operable from a distant point for subsequently ra1s1ng the lower end of the distributing spout to its original elevated position.

4. The combination with an overhead grain discharging spout, of an inclined distributingspout having the upper end thereof continuously receiving from the discharge spout andmounted to permit of the rotation of the distributin spout around a vertical axis pass: ing through the upper end thereof and the lower end thereof provided with anendwise shiftable telescoping section, a horizontally disposed suitably mounted circular track positioned concentric to the vertical axis aforesaid, a horizontally disposed carriage frame supporting the distributing spout and having the outer end thereof mounted for rotation around the vertical axis aforesaid, a carriage carried by the outer end of the carriage frame and operating-on the track, a plurality of suitably spaced upwardly converging bin spouts underlying'the track,

means releasably locking the telescoping section of the distributing spout in an up position clear of the bin spouts, manually actuated means operable from a distant point for rotating the distributing spout around its vertical axis to bring the lower end thereof into axial alignment with the bin spouts,

sequently raising. the telescoping section of the distributing spout to its original locked position.

5. The combination with an overhead discharge spout, ofa vertically disposedrotatably mounted post underlying the discharge spout, an inclined distributing spout having the upper end carried by the upper end of the post and continuously receiving from the discharge spout and the, lower end provided with a telescoping section, a horizontally disposed track mounted concentric to the post, a carriage operating on,the track and supporting the distributing spout and without interfering .with the telescoping movement of the lower section, a plurality of up wardly converging bin spouts underlying the track, means releasably locking thelower end of the distributing spout in a normal elevated position clear of the bin spouts, manually actuated means operable froma distant point sequently raising the telescoping section to its original elevated locked position.

6. The combination with an overhead discharge spout, of a vertically disposedrotatably mounted post underlying the discharge spout, an-inclined distributing spout having the upper end carried by the upper end of the post and continuously receiving from the discharge spout and the lower end provided with a telescoping section, a horizontally disposed track mounted concentric to the post, a carriage frame having one end supported by the post and the other end spanningthe distributing spout, a carriage formed at the outer edge of the latter frame and operating on the track, meansadjustably supporting the distributing spout from the carriage frame, a plurality of upwardly converging bin spouts underlying the track, means .re-

leasably locking the lower end of the distributing spout in a normal elevated position clear of. the bin spouts, manually actuated means operable from a distant point for ro-' means for automatically locking the carriage against movement when said latter spouts have been so aligned, means for coincidently and automatically releasing the aforesaid dis-x tributing spout locking means to permit the lower end ofthe spout todrop into telescoped relation with the-adjacent bin spout, means forsribsequently unlocking the carriage and "manually actuated means operable from a m distant point for subsequently raising the telescoping lower end of .the distributing spout to its original elevated lockingposi- -,tion. r i i 7 The combination with an overhead, discharge spout, of a. vertically disposed rotatably mounted post underlying they-dis; charge spout, an inclined distributing-Spout having the upper end pivotallycarried by 'the upper end of the post and continuously receiving from thedi'scharge spout and the lower end provided with a telescoping sec: tion, a horizontally disposed circular track mounted concentric to the post, acarriage frame spanning the post and the distributing spout, said carriage frame having-the inner end connected to the post by. a universaljoint permitting of the up swinging of; the frame i and of the lateral rocking otthesame, a wheeled carriage. operating on the track and so supporting the outer end of-the-frame, means adjustably supporting the distributing spout from the carriage frame, a plurality otupwardly converging bin' spouts-underlying the track, means normally locking the dis: tributing spoutlsection in an up positioncleal? of the bin spouts, manually actuated means operable from a distant point for rotating the post to bring the distributing spout into axial alignment with the bin spouts, apivoted lock 40 ing latch associated with each bin spout, said latch being normally clearof the moving carriage and having stop means associated there- ,M with limiting itsupward trave1,"a lineic-on nected to each latch andpassingtoa distant point, a weight for attachment to a selected line to ettectthe raising of the latchj'to its limiting position, said latch in its raised posi; ton being engageablewith the. moving car riage and adapted inthe movement of the carriage to enter a notch provided in the car; riage and when so entered tolock the carriage with the distributing spout aXiallyaligned M with the adjacent bin spout, means-for automatically releasing the distributing spout sectionto drop and telescopewi thinthe-adja cent bin spoutcoincident withthelocking-o f the carriageby the latch anctmanuallyactuated means operable fr madistant-point tor subsequently raising the distributing spout sectionto its upper locked-positions 8. In combination, 'a' vertically-disposed ro tatably mounted post, a-horizontal-ly disposed tcircular tracklocated, concentri'c to the .post, a downwardly inclined distributing. spout having the upper end supported by the post to the lower end ofthe spout and toettect .theiunn: ing of the-spout with the .post,.said. dlStT-lbi uting spout being. providednat its lower; end

with a telescoping spout section, anplurality, of; upwardlysconver ingsuitably. spaced bin. spoutsunderlying the track, alhorizontally disposed carriage frame spanning.- the-post and the spout :and. havingoneend connected by-a universal-joint xto thepost to1per1nit, of; the up swingi-ng-andotthe lateral tiltingaof the frame, said frame turning with thepost, a wheeled carriage ridingthetrackand sup: porting the outer end of the frame, means carried by thecarriageand engaging. with the spout section and normally. ,releasably locking the. spout sectionin anelevatedposi: tion 1 clear of thebin :spouts,'.a pairaotrods located at thesi-desoithe distributing spout and having their upper .ends,,;pivotally;.,at= tachedto. the sides ot the-distributingspout and their lower1ends. s lidably.', .sup.p.orting.

the distributing spout section andmeans ad; justably. supporting. thdlower ends ofathe. rods from the carriage .frameto permitiof the adjustmentof the lower end of. the distrib-- utingspout in respect tolthelframewu 9. In combination, a horizontally disp osed track an inclined distributingaspout.having its upper end mounted concentric :tothc track, a horizontally disposedicarriage frame pivota ally mounted concentric-to.thetrack, means. efl'e'cting the simultaneous -turning's; .oi. the frame.- and the spout, a wheeled carriage op; erating on the tra'ck'and supporting theouter end of the frame, a plurality of upwardly. converging suitably spaced bin spouts under;- lying the track, meansadj'ustably supporting the lower end of the-'distributing.spoutirom t e-name, said means permitting pf. the net end-shifting of the spoutsectioncmeansnore Lat;

many releasably locking the..-.spout..section.-in

an elevated position clearxof t-hebinspouts, means for locking the carriageagainst now. ine nt' upon the di stributingl spout. being. brought to a position aligned with onepof the bin spouts and means for coincidentliy. and automatically A unlocking themdistribut ing spout section togdropintotelescoping relationwith the adjacent bin spout.-. a 10. In combination, horiz'ontally.-. d is-.

posed circular track, an'in clined distributing spout mounted concentric tothe track,.a 111 rality of. .upwardly .nconverging spitably spaced bin spouts underlying thestrack, a car? riage .operating .onthe trlackrand supporting the. distributingspout therefrom, means; for rotating. theedistrib uting spout to; bring, ,it

into anial. alignment with one orothenofi the bin spo11ts*, .an .extension spout section mount,- ed onthetlower. endof. the distributing $110.11? andlnormallyzlockedlin alhfljlsvated position clear of i the bin .spouts meansfqr automatie cally locking theQarriageaga-inst moycment upon the distributing spout extension section being brought to a position axially aligned with the bin spouts and automatically operated means for unlocking the bin spout to drop into telescoping relation With the bin spout subsequent to the locking of the carriage.

Signed at Regina this 29th day of April,

CHARLES B READ. 

